Date: Tue, 14 Apr 2009 18:55:06 -0700
Reply-To: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Jake de Villiers <crescentbeachguitar@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Brake Expert Questions/PICS/Rant
In-Reply-To: <c4e7c5f90904141438j5fd60873k5fec6563c5a8454a@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
Never seen it happen Neil...
Brakleen will clean your rotor and I think your pads should be okay - by the
time you get to the bottom of Taylor Way it should have burned off!
Does your pedal feel as good as mine yet? :-)
On Tue, Apr 14, 2009 at 2:38 PM, neil N <musomuso@gmail.com> wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> New rotors, "factory" rebuilt ATE calipers, pads all messed up with brake
> fluid.
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/faultyaterebuiltcaliper
>
> Questions:
>
> Is this type of failure UNcommon? Do they pressure test rebuilds
> before shipping? Any pointers on inspecting the new replacement
> caliper before purchase?
>
> Vendor owns a Vanagon and took time to compare this "brand" of
> rebuilds to offerings from local FLAPS. I trust the vendor. But if I
> get another bum one, I'm afraid my head will pop off. <grin>
>
> Will brake parts cleaner *really* clean rotor back to "new"? Same for
> new brake pads? (instinct says swap in new pads though)
>
> Rant on.
>
> I'm so f'g mad. I know that brake calipers get rebuilt over and over,
> but this certainly speaks to me that I would have been better off
> rebuilding my old calipers or biting the bullet by upgrading to more
> modern parts. (big brake or post '86 style) Either that or stand over
> the 420 influenced lacky that put these together and make sure
> assembly and testing was correct and done. I can accept f'g up with
> assembly of non life threatening parts like a cheap 12V light, but
> brakes? Unacceptable.
>
> Thankfully, it happened close to home and not on my trip.
>
> Rant off.
>
> Of note for local North Vancouverites:
>
> Mark at Lonsdale Wheel Alignment, spotted leak. (I think he's the
> owner.... Beetle Spa sends their alignment stuff to him) Something
> felt hinky on route to shop. 1st thought: "MC? Nah. It's almost new".
> 2nd thought: "pads bedding in?" I may not have looked for the leak. He
> did me a solid. My Westy drives better too.
>
> John at VanWonder spotted leak super quick. I was able to describe
> exactly what I did, which helped, but credit where credits due. Left
> to my own designs, I would have assumed a "new" caliper just shouldn't
> leak. I probably would have found it, but a second set of experienced
> eyes really helped.
>
> Thanks for any help. :)
>
> Neil.
> --
> Neil Nicholson '81 VanaJetta 2.0 "Jaco"
>
> http://tubaneil.googlepages.com/
>
>
> http://groups.google.com/group/vanagons-with-vw-inline-4-cylinder-gas-engines
>
--
Jake
1984 Vanagon GL
1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
Crescent Beach, BC
www.crescentbeachguitar.com
http://subyjake.googlepages.com/mydixiedarlin%27
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